MUSKEGON, MI – Eleven couples will grace the dance floor at
the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor in downtown Muskegon at the fifth annual Dancing With the
Local Stars event Feb. 21 to 23.

Participants of this year's Dancing With the Local Stars event rehearse their opening number at Diane's School of Dance in Fruitport on Feb. 1.Lisha Arino | MLive

This year's roster includes Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson, North
Muskegon High School and Middle School principal Heidi Sunderhaft Christiansen,
Muskegon County Airport marketing director Dianne Hoofman and 19 other local
dignitaries, businessmen, personalities and professionals.

In addition, Lisa
Jirikovic will perform a tribute dance to Bob Cutler, who was scheduled to
perform with her before he died in January.

Dancing With the Local Stars alumni Stacy Shepherd, who was crowned Miss Michigan
in 2001, and former Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington will emcee the shows.

The annual event is a based on the popular TV reality show,
"Dancing with the Stars," and is put on as a fundraiser for local food pantries
by the Women's Division Chamber of Commerce in Muskegon.

Local dance professionals pair up with a "community star" to
raise money for the pantries and to prepare a dance number for the show dates.

Last year's event raised $100,000 for 34 different
organizations, including Love Inc., the Salvation Army and several churches, according
to a previous report.

About 30 organizations have applied for proceeds from this
year's event, said Mary Kendall, the event's co-chairwoman. She said the money received by each group will
depend on how much the event makes this year and "where the percentages fall."

In addition to raising funds for local food pantries, Dancing With the Local Stars participants also compete for trophies.
Each night, a guest judge will give one couple "The Critic's
Choice" award; the audience will cast votes for the "Best of Show"; and
"People's Choice" will be decided by the amount of money the couples raise.

The theme for 2013's event is "New York, New York," Kendall
said. Although each couple will perform a variety of dance styles, they will
come together for Broadway-inspired opening and closing numbers.

For the first
time this year, the opening number will also spotlight the dance professionals
as well as the stars.

"We want them to kind of strut their stuff and show the
community what they're all about," Kendall said.

Depending on the night, the additional performers are Sylvia Yacoub,
a Mona Shores High School graduate who was a top 10 finalist on the most recent season of "The
Voice"; Andrea Mathews, a Muskegon singer and actress; Grand Rapids-based dance
group 61Syx Teknique; harpist Phyllis Miner; and dancers Melissa Boutel, Karen
Rix and Hans Kliphuis from the Social Dance Studio in Grand Rapids.

In addition, a DJ will be on hand to play music during
intermission and after the show, so guests can cut a rug on the dance floor,
Kendall said.

Kendall promised a good time at each performance.

"It is a very fun night," she said, adding that supporters
for the dancers often cheer loudly, sometimes with horns, whistles and
flashlights.

Tickets are selling quickly, Kendall said. Tickets for
Friday and Saturday evenings have sold out, she said, but there are still a few
left for Thursday evening and Saturday's matinee performance.

The evening shows start at 7:30 p.m. but a cash bar, hors
d'oeuvres and cookies will be available starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40
each.

Doors open at noon for Saturday's matinee and will also
include a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres and cookies. The dance competition will
begin at 1 p.m. Tickets for that performance are $30 each.